Let’s get poetic: Derrick Henry in purple and black is like Game of Thrones’ Mountain wearing a cape. Last season, he didn’t just run—he reigned, tying for the NFL lead in rush TDs and flexing a stiff-arm that could bench-press a Prius. Remember Week 4? First play vs. Buffalo: 87-yard TD. “I am a living testament, man,” Henry once said, and dude wasn’t kidding. His 2-year, $16M deal ($9M guaranteed) isn’t just a contract; it’s a coronation.
Yet, critics whisper: “He’s 31! The cliff cometh!” Tell that to the Steelers’ D, which he gashed for 186 playoff yards—a Ravens postseason record. Or his 51-yard OT dagger vs. Cincy that hit 22 MPH. “You control your own destiny,” Henry declared, hence, sounding more like The Lion King’s Mufasa than a running back. Baltimore’s betting $2M in incentives (1,500 yards = cha-ching) that the King’s throne isn’t going anywhere. “Derrick Henry is getting after it this offseason 😤,” tweeted Dov Kleiman.
Indeed, the tweet flashed across timelines like a Marvel post-credits scene—there’s Henry, Baltimore’s 6’3”, 247-pound titan, sprinting up a hill with weights strapped to his back like he’s training for Rocky IV. At 31, entering his 10th season, Henry’s not just grinding; perhaps he’s sending a message: “Y’all thought I was done? Hold my protein shake.” After a 2024 campaign where he bulldozed defenses for 1,921 rush yards (5.9 YPC) and 16 TDs—without leading the league—the Ravens’ RB1 is out to prove age is just a number.
But Henry’s hill sprints aren’t just #BeastMode fan service. They’re a prelude to Baltimore’s master plan, sealed by John Harbaugh’s fresh 3-year extension. Think Tony Soprano settling into his booth at Satriale’s: “This is my house.” With Harbaugh locked in through 2028 (172-104 career record, 2nd only to Mike Tomlin in tenure), the Ravens aren’t rebuilding—they’re reloading.
Harbaugh’s huddle: leadership, legacy, and laser focus
Meanwhile, John Harbaugh’s extension isn’t just a contract—it’s a cultural reset. Imagine The Office’s Michael Scott, but with playoff wins (13) instead of Dundie Awards. “Enthusiasm unknown to mankind,” Harbaugh once quipped, channeling his dad’s coaching mantra. That energy’s why he’s a HOF lock: 12 postseasons in 17 years, a SB XLVII ring, and a locker room that runs on grit and goofy dad jokes.
But 2024’s Divisional Round loss to Buffalo? Oof. Lamar Jackson’s 4,172 pass yards and Zay Flowers’s breakout (first Ravens WR Pro Bowler!) weren’t enough. Yet, Harbaugh’s response was pure Ted Lasso: “You got the hearts of lions… That’s what carries us.” With his extension, Baltimore’s doubling down on culture—a blend of Ray Lewis’s intensity and Marching Ravens’ brass.
USA Today via Reuters
This isn’t just football; it’s folklore. Indeed, the Ravens’ “Seven Nation Army” chant isn’t a stadium gimmick—it’s a war cry. Their new “Purple Rising” jerseys? More like Black Panther vibes meets Edgar Allan Poe. And let’s not forget the Marching Ravens, the NFL’s last standing band, turning M&T Bank Stadium into a symphony of chaos.
Derrick Henry and John Harbaugh embody this spirit. One’s a workhorse myth; the other’s a scheming sage. In fact, together, they’re chasing a legacy as timeless as Poe’s raven—“Nevermore” the doubters. “It’s all about the team, the team, the team,” Henry insists, while Harbaugh’s eyeing that third ring like Frodo eyeing Mount Doom.
The Roar of the Flock: Baltimore’s 2025 blueprint? A haiku:
Henry’s cleats crush grass
Harbaugh’s clipboard holds the plan
Lombardi or bust.
With Henry’s hunger (“I am definitely hungry… to win a Super Bowl”) and Harbaugh’s extension, the Ravens aren’t just contenders—they’re a narrative. And in a league where tomorrow’s never promised, Baltimore’s betting on yesterday’s grit to fuel tomorrow’s glory.
So crank up “Seven Nation Army,” wave those terrible towels (wait, wrong team), and brace for impact. The Ravens are coming—and they’re not asking permission. 🏟️💜
